Thunder Claim Game Two, 4-1

TRENTON, N.J. - A night after pounding out 11 runs on 15 hits, the Curve offense was held to one run on eight hits in a, 4-1, loss to the Trenton Thunder Saturday night at Arm & Hammer Park. Starter Nick Kingham (1-7) took the loss but lasted seven innings for his fourth straight start in the loss. Alen Hanson was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and extended his season-best hit streak to six games on Saturday.

Trenton jumped on the board first in the first off Kingham. Mason Williams singled on the infield and moved to third when Ben Gamel hit a ball towards first that Stetson Allie threw in the dirt towards second trying to force out Williams. With runners at the corners, Kingham got the double play ball from Rob Segedin but the run scored and Trenton led, 1-0.

They added two more in the second after Kingham hit Tyler Austin to start the inning and then allowed a single to Rob Refsnyder. With runners at second and third after a sac bunt by Taylor Dugas, a wild pitch by Kingham allowed Austin to score to make it, 2-0. A RBI single by Dan Fiorito to score Refsnyder made it, 3-0.

Kingham went on to settle in from there and retired nine in a row from the third through the start of the bottom of the fifth. Altoona's only run came in the top of the fifth inning when Drew Maggi grounded out to score Justin Howard, who'd doubled to start the frame.

The Thunder, however, matched the Curve run and ended Kingham's streak of nine in a row retired when Gamel doubled to left. Kingham then committed a balk to move him to third and Segedin plated him with a sac fly.

Neither team scored the rest of the way. Kingham went on to finish seven innings and struck out six batters while not permitting a walk. Only three of the four runs were earned to Kingham, who lost for the seventh time this season.

Keon Broxon drew a walk in the eighth inning run his on-base streak to 10 games but was held out of the hit column on Saturday night. Elias Diaz had two hits and was 2-for-4 to run his hit streak to a modest five games.

With the series even at a game apiece, the Curve (23-38) still can grab their first road series win of 2014 with a downing of the Thunder (33-30) in the 1:05 p.m. series finale Sunday afternoon. LHP Zack Dodson (1-3, 3.38) will go for the Curve and will be opposed by LHP Manny Banuelos (0-1, 3.95) for Thunder.

Airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 12:35 p.m.

-CURVE-